Tether



(No Model.)

L. J. KING.

TETHER. No. 387,423. Patented Aug. 7, 1888.

Q R to g INVENTOR. 4500 s J 21-6 UNITED STATES PATENT Fries.

LEWIS J. KING, OF FAIR PLAY, SOUTH CAROLINA.

TETHER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 387,423, dated August 7, 1888.

Application filed June 21, 1888. Serial No. 277.800.

.To aZZ whom it may concern:

Beit known that I, LEWIS J. KING, acitizen of the United States, residing at Fair Play, in the county of Oconee and State of South Carolina, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Tethers; and I do declare the following to be afull, clear, and exact description ofthe invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention has relation to improvements in cattle-grazing devices; and it consists in the peculiar and novel combination and arrangement of the various parts for service, as will be hereinafter fully set forth, and particularly pointed out in the claims.

The main object of this invention is to pro vide an adjustable grazing device so constructed as to prevent the cattle from becoming tangled in the securing rope or chain, inasmuch as the said rope will at all times be drawn taut, and thus overcome the trouble and annoyance that are experienced in grazing devices heretofore employed, in which the securing-rope is liable to slacken and become tangled, and thus serve to trip the cattle and prevent them from pasturing in a free and easy manner, as will be better understood and more fully explained presently. I attain these objects by the means illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a perspective view of a grazing device embodying my improvements, and Fig. 2 is a vertical central longitudinal sectional View of the same.

Referring to the said drawings by letter, A designates a vertical post or standard, preferably constructed of metal piping, which is thoroughly adapted to withstand the strain and wear and tear exerted upon the same by the cattle pulling and tugging upon the hitch ing or securing rope that connects the animals with the grazing device. The upper end of the post A is screw-threaded, and this screwthreaded end is adapted to receive an internally-threaded head or nut, 12, the function of which will be presently explained.

B indicates a vertical bracket, preferably of metal, and providedin its lower portion with a central aperture, through which is received the upper portion of the post or standard A.

(No model.)

This bracket is further provided with two upwardly-extending parallel arms, between which, at their upper portions, is pivoted a horizontally-disposed lever, C.

It will be seen that after the upper portion of the post or standard A is received through the central opening in the lower horizontal wall of the bracket 13 the said protruded end will extend into the said bracket until it reaches a horizontal wall or plate, 0, which connects the lower portions of the vertical arms of the said bracket B together, and against which it abuts, and thus serves to support the bracket B.

It will be observed that by employing the head or nut b the vertical post or standard is prevented from dropping out or from leaving the opening in the bot-tom of the bracket B, and it further serves as a wear-plate between the upper end of the said post or standard A and the lower surface of the horizontal plate 0.

The extreme lower end of the vertical post or standard may be reduced or sharpened to permit of its ready entrance in the ground when the same is driven by the attendant, and it will be seen that by screwing the nut into proper position upon the upper threaded end of the post or standard A the said upper end will be preserved and protected from the blows of the hammer or other implement used in driving the same, and thus prevent the afore said end from being mashed or worn.

D designates a plate, preferably of metal, and which I have shown as tapered horizontally in Fig. 1 of the drawings. This plate is provided at or near its inner end with a circular opening, through which is passed the vertical post or standard A. In the outer end of the plate D, I form a smaller opening,in which is secured one end of a coiled spring, E, which is arranged in an oblique position. The upper or other end of this spring is connected through the medium of a staple or other suitable fastening device to the outer end of the lever G.

F is a sliding sleeve or collarmounted upon the post A, and provided with a set-screw,by means of which it prevents the plate D from rising when the inner or smaller end of the le- Ver 0 descends.

The plate D and sliding sleeve F can he slid upon the vertical post or standard A either from the upper or lower end thereof, as will be very readily understood. It will be therefore fully comprehemled from the foregoing deseription,when taken in connection with the annexed drawings, that the device can he raised or lowered in other words, vertically adjusted-to tit different-sized animals, and also that the cattle are allowed considerable latitude around and about the vertical post A, in view of the fact that the bracket B, carrying the lever to which the cattle are attached, is free to move or revolve upon the said post or standard.

The operation of the invention is obvious. The whole device is held in position and supported upon the post or standard A, which is firmly driven in the ground. The animal is then hitched to a suitable rope or elniimwhich is in turn connected to the free end of the lever C, a portion of the rope being shown in the drawings. It will thus be understood that when an animal, for instance, suddenly lowers or drops its head the lever C will immediately follow in the same direction, and when the animal afterward raises its head the said lever will instantly ily back to its normal or horizontal position by the action of the spring E exerted upon the same, and thus prevent any slackening or any loops and tangles from occurring in the rope, as has been previously so common in devices of this character.

The stake or post is preferably provided with a plurality of pertorations arranged at suitable intervals alongitslength and are deamaze signed to receive the point of the set-screw, which passes through the sleeve F, so as to stop the plate 1) at the desired point on the said stake.

Havingdescribed my inventiomwhat I claim is- 1. In a grazing device, the combination, with the vertical post or standard having its lower end reduced or sharpened, and its upper end provided with the detachable head, of the revolving bracket carrying the lever mounted upon the said post or standard, a sliding collar or sleeve provided with a set-screw and adapted to raise or lower a plate loosely mounted upon the post or standard, and the said plate connected with the adjacent end of the lever by means of a coiled spring, substantially as specified.

2. In a cattle-grazing device, the combination, with a vertical post or standard adapted to be driven into the ground, of a rcvolublc bracket mounted on the said post, a lever pivoted to the bracket, a sliding sleeve on the post, carrying an adjustable fastening device, a loose plate on the post, and a spiral spring connecting one end of t-helever with said plate, substantially as specified.

In testimony whereot' I allix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

LEWIS J. KING.

Witnesses:

T. EDMUNDS TURPIN,

W. DASHIELL. 

